and press the go folks surrogate. when georgia try to topple the resister regime in the break we're republic of south a saturday three years ago moscow was there to help russia became the first state to realize the independence of south central and the other georgian breakaway republic of casa but in the spring of this year the cars in president surrogate died of heart failure and now the young country is looking for a new leader and the name will be known soon there's a shortlist of three the acting head of state the opposition leader and the prime minister. this is a. thank you for coming to the program we're happy to have you with this house he has been living in dissipation of an early election for the last two months this extraordinary situation i think the stability in the republic. it's hard to say

that the untimely death has taken president surrogate bug up show way from us under the constitution of the presidential election is to take place on august twenty sixth the state has held elections more than once before and it will be the fourth presidential election in the history of the country. these elections have always met the standards of transparency and democracy as general evaluations and comments by international watchdog suggest. but we're sure the upcoming election will also live up to these standards were invited many observers especially from some european countries to monitor the election. well some eighteen months ago we held the previous presidential election. and that was accessed by the monitors democratic and absolutely legal. there is no election rush among the voters is there. a president society has traditionally been much

politicized and has always struggled for the citizens' rights and it causes independence. this is uncertain political activity is clearly seen of a now definitely won't cross the lines by the constitution. and sticking to the election topic do you work together with. president alexander in the government. can explain your decision to rival each other instead of nominating a concerted candidate against the opposition leader. arrival in a chalice candidacy he showed us his goal in his own way. we think it's good to let people choose. this is a democratic and open competition which makes the popular choice subject. mentioning comes to

a second election around and only one of you has passed the other front runner being. supported one another in this case to be the opposition. you know will greatly depend on the results of the second election around who wins because the electorate will have formed by that time and i don't think that any attempts on the part of the political leaders to influence their opinions can succeed. expect russia to take as we remember russia supported one of the candidates back in two thousand and four that we have extended talks in moscow do you sense any disposition what is seen. with a. struggle for its independence for quite long but all in the past played into its liberty to the victims and losses. therefore any for intrusion and it causes domestic affairs encounters more but a version of the population national. accounts for the voters over reaction and two thousand and four which. as far as i see the russian leadership is

not going to meddle with the presidential election there's time. they says what on carbon diet have heard here and now regular meetings of the russian politicians. how do you feel about the possibility of the opposition coming to power who you theory is or should is it critical he stability if the opposition seize power can this lead to revolutionary developments in the country we know in two thousand and four it was the opposition that ripped the power this was preceded by a fierce selection struggle of course which is quite common for all the actions in the process even the parliamentary elections all are political events go in the atmosphere of close competition days i hate to interrupt you but the country was practically on the brink of a civil war in two thousand and four yes on the brink but we always know the right time to stop i hope. truly unique solutions were found back in two thousand and.

two rivaling candidates united to the efforts and one to the next election around as a president and vice president of mystic it is the president in such matters it is life itself that directs. people. and this poses certain threats to the life of the community. that's why the president society has always been so anxious to preserve stability and peace and as a country. you are generally considered to be a soft liner a politician who favors diplomacy i think you can sense to give this interview the point i think it is more of a drawback. in the run up to the presidential election you surely have a tough action plan to combat corruption and increasing criminal activity in the country. of course i have one i think you constant force law and order by police methods. you should use diplomatic tools and we are about to do this. i

am a person with democratic fears of a liberal heaven and i'm known for my views. but i think that this is the right approach that helps find solutions to challenging issues that are going well any sorts of tough measures are simply unacceptable in a cause. just like in any other country but the most is that as we all can see what came out of tough regimes such as to tell a terror in regimes and others. and our people are especially freedom loving and as zero tolerance to pressure. and you can go in the room and you put it all therefore in a positive. in the society itself there chose to macross a. democrat the script which well is an example of tough rule by one person who has been in office work quite a while. but we see that the motion never stops and job. people are unhappy in the government keeps being shuffled. it often happens in

a non constitutional way god forbid that will live a life like this but. with all the difficulties we've been having. even in the times of the blockade. when the pressure put on us by major international players was really high and as you know the united states russia france the united kingdom germany the united nations they all see and other international organizations all took part in the children of conflict settlement. and most of them put pressure on us trying to drive us back into georgia. but nevertheless we stood by our interests that's something we really know how to do. it. let's go back to the election looking at georgia's experience situation in georgia is quite difficult there are always some spies skin those officials close to. end up in jail and so on that's what it boils down to. but it could actually

be to your advantage because there is an opinion that you are has its hands busy right now it is more focused on his domestic situation and therefore you should expect no pressure to interfere no provocation from georgia during the upcoming election is that true. you know once we signed the treaty of friendship corp mutual assistance with the russian federation which defined alliance with russia. in the security guarantees provided by the straits a. russia's protection. in addition to this we're taking the opportunity to develop economic relations with russia. and these two facts have changed the situation there. and the fears of people used to have of georgia are now given way to the new outlook and other new concerns.

these days our society feels that our priority challenge is that of corruption. and this i think speaks a lot for itself. therefore speaking of the presidential elections where certain about. but it well i think it's going to go exactly the way she was largely criticised for looking up to russia too much perhaps and for having made way too many concessions. leadership she would need to make some adjustments in this sense. i think that no matter who gets the office strategic alliance with russia will remain the top priority on a because there's a chance because there is no other option not least because other countries in the region have not yet recognized. this which states edge between keeps friendship green or would you say it has nothing to

do with the caucuses. well i think that in any case this is worth knowing. how much truth is there in the opinion of how he is independence can actually be in danger and the danger comes from russia that there's a risk that he can be taken over by russia russian business interests and capital expense business. i already said that we are a small country place in many threads and our history proves that. well therefore smart leadership means everything to us. and thus we hope that our leaders will always be very smart. we already had some very bitter experience in the past and we should learn from it and we do not see any attempts on russia's side to suppress our national identity our statehood or our choice sure and.

as for concerns of the economic nature well we actually welcome investments into our. present and this process is already underway. russia's recognition of us over and business encouraged more businesses to explore a country. so we really welcome investors and new projects in our country we already have some projects to offer it says. prime minister. it will be back shortly after the break so stay with us. twenty years ago the largest country. to.

have been. to teach began a journey. where did it take the. wealthy british style. markets why not scandals. find out what's really happening to the global economy in these kinds of reports on our. welcome back to spotlight and just a reminder that my guest in the studio today is the shah the prime minister. we have touched upon the issue of russia's economic presence an impasse and you

said you welcome russian investment in their housing economy as far as i know you know it's going from what i saw when he came to a party last year with investment from other countries not just russia and he's equally important here what is the current situation. in any significant investment from western countries a president. speak of significant investments at this stage was up on what western business circles and even some american business people has been shown certain interests in across. but anyway the number of people who come up with projects these days is rather limited. are these people interested in to be more precise in buying the stretch of the black sea coast the must be after the end. to give you an example there is a turkish company that deals with coal mining also cooperate with companies

interested in them because in resort areas travel industry and natural resources resource there are various business proposals. have already mentioned very scarce that is partially the result of the western policies towards of course the united states and the european union. but there's been considerable interest recently there are certain willingness to cooperate specially in the economic sphere. the us and the e.u. to develop a strategy of engagement without recognition in regard to the state. that's an interesting concept. without. the west cannot recognize it for political reasons but at the same time it is eager to promote cooperation with the french treaty i've heard an opinion that this move was not inspired by the wish to help and not even by the considerations of profit to prevent russia from gaining in position in the region since this trend of the western policies is effective.

it hasn't come to the implementation of this policy it is not of course what you are saying is true. there is competition over we have always senate both in the past on the political settlements was on the way and now when they cannot make interest for all the day before and is allowed to purchase real estate in a. way. pilates that land can go on sale and only citizens of entitled to buy real estate. but at the present moment the parliament is considering a lot or after that will enable compromise on this question. if the bill is passed there is any foreigner not only russians will be able to purchase houses on the seaside am i right i will explain the question the russian resort city of sochi is located only one hundred kilometers away from him is tremendously popular with

tourists and it's overcrowded as you. see is eminently cleaner the air is cleaner environment is much better than in sochi you should make use of this potential what is holding you back. the thing is we want to preserve this beauty of all nature but isn't that we feel very cautious about projects that can harm the environment. we have already had to turn down some very attractive proposals because the public was. hosed so the projects. which. i don't want to sound offensive with regard to. if woman wants to preserve her virginity she shouldn't get married and she never will in fact. we should find a compromise solution here do you think there can be a compromise in the situation. where we're now discussing this new compromise alone real estate. the slow will apply to the new buildings only.

go into a lot of foreign citizens to buy and own new buildings and more paid. a lot of housing were proven out into turkey during the wars in the caucasus in the nineteenth century and there is many of housing living in turkey as there were in opposing nowadays much more in fact it. has here today are very small people with it but they are you planning any repatriation campaign you know to attract all those who are displaced from their home country. who are pursuing a special policy in this regard as well. established a state body that deals with their pets ration issues no mass migrations of stars and so forth. there are people who want to come back to the repatriation body helps them to settle down and resolve their rising problems. besides the great number of ethical presidents living in turkey predetermines the policy of the

turkish government which facilitates friendly relations between the cars and turkey . turkey still hasn't recognized us i thought the turks always take their conclusions into consideration. as the turkish cause insects are consolidated within a countrywide cook asian community shill and they form a significant force that can influence the domestic political decision making process. seal is in this a regard their policies very much like armenia since up to seventy percent of iranians they reside outside their native country but their incomes over half of the budgets of the state budget of course but the household budgets of the relatives we have anything of the kind. of situations are completely different because our main is a one nation state. many informal ninety percent of its population whereas we have

a multicultural society. and there are unique culture. many different cultures is what makes us strong in the door. this is especially true of our capital. which has inspired many poets and writers but this one of a kind mixture of cultures traditions and religions is something truly unique. but it's this. recognition for your independent state so you don't quite well then but it's somehow slow down and there's been no. for the progress since then as far as i know. this process is to anytime soon. we have signed the treaty with russia takes care of practically all of our key problems. and the key problems any country faces in the domains of security and economic development of. our alliance with russia helps us address these two issues

both security and economic development in the most efficient way and i mean a lot has already been done in both fears. and alliance with the world's largest country that we share extended lead boundaries with is naturally the key here. nevertheless well diplomats continue their efforts we cooperate with many countries it is never happened before no history that her ambassadors work somewhere far from our region although their president can them existed for many centuries. today diplomats work on distant continents when they work in latin america and south and central america in the caribbean as well as in the pacific region the process is underway and the main thing. is that there are friendly nations out there and there is an understanding that a president is a sovereign term accredit states recently

a strong argument so there are also many powerful forces that are trying to hinder this process well that's the political environment where it will be changing as it cannot stay the same forever of course in the end of the day the recognition of a cause it will depend on the progress we make and in our message to the world and i'm sure that our message will be saying that because there is an open democratic and friendly state. that's the kind of country we're building the. forces that stand in a way. the global diplomatic arena and what are those forces is the united states or europe or georgia. well they have been well known cases when for example belarus was ready to recognize across but then it faced pressure from the european union and the united states that's one simple example. but if you ever tell me to look at shank over the years that he was pressured by washington international recognition

of he will go bananas i wouldn't recommend telling him that. well let's say he had to yield to circumstances. we understand everything and hold no grudge against anyone of course we know that those states and their politicians live in today's world and have to take into account lots going on around so do we actually you know what's going on in the world does worry us to us in the. lynwood with russia which is you along with border. also have one more important neighbor and there is georgia. which you have legally been a part of for many years so if you expect ever to live to see a constructive dialogue starting with georgia in. the starting to recognize a partially. you know i have always said that georgia will recognize a cause a one day around the opposing position at the present i just don't know when that day will come but you see not much time has passed and yet we already see well

known brother influential people in georgia including next president mr shevardnadze saying that a cause a should be recognized. right now there are obstacles to that but i think as time goes by there will be an understanding that it is better to be friends with the crowd and to remain in a permanent conflict for that and confront that's when we see we are ready to have a dialogue was georgia right now but it's impossible in the sense they pass laws that don't allow us to get behind the negotiations table to go or. if they claim that it causes an occupied country well we don't really go to. as occupied so they secretly have an agreement with russia polish there is a russian military base in the process. somehow as he is about as much occupied by russia is georgia is occupied by the united states well yes we may continue talking to each other like that forever. georgia says that it won't be able to talk with us unless of course it is the occupied. while in this case they have to wait for

a long time and change their mind in the empty anyway so if i get it correctly it is possible but not under the current regime and billy see. i think that the sober view of the current situation in the region will prevail sooner or later assuming not only in georgia but also among those who support your chance to see that certain understanding already exists but there are various mutual obligations that prevent the policies. and the situation correctly. especially thank you very much for being with us and just to remind my guest today was that the present prime minister spoke about it will be back with more first time comments on was going on in and outside russia so let's stay in r.t. and take a. in

india oh geez availability is the move to join the those who raise the level of

violence the gateway to the ground in period truly to tell us that. you can to listen to. see don't need to go publicly and read this in the can it was a photo retreat. deadly aftershocks of suicide rates in japan soar a survivor struggle to come to terms with the devastating earthquake and tsunami that's killed thousands this is the un's atomic watchdog says radiation at the stricken fukushima nuclear plant could be maintained within months many areas are now no go zones after the tsunami triggered a partial meltdown at the reactors releasing dangerous amounts of radiation into the environment. in the u.s. president obama threatens to veto or why the republican plan to fund a debt ceiling increase an agreement must be reached within a week to avoid the u.s. defaulting on its loans obama warned that if default caused another for global financial crisis the blame would be laid squarely at washington's door. tension

rises in kosovo was police and ethnic serbs face off at several border checkpoints over a tit for tat trade bad the u.n. any use a pristine is heavy handed approach could stoke more ethnic hatred in the republic six hundred thousand serbs still live in the region but refused to recognise its sovereignty after it declared independence from serbia three years ago. more controversial issue and hot debate coming up next on cross talk in the aftermath of the math of the horrific attacks in norway host peter lavelle asked his guests if the west is too focused on islamic fundamentalism while ignoring the rise of the far right stay with us.

and you can. start. following me welcome to cross talk i'm peter lavelle the color of terrorism as norway comes to terms with its most horrific attack on soil since the second world war a plethora of questions demand answers how could this assault be planned and executed under the radar of the authorities and as the west focused too much on islamic groups instead of homegrown extremists and terrorists. and it. started. to cross talk the rise of far right nationalism i'm joined by my guest in london ali he's chair of the muslim safety forum and stephen guy.